The makers of the Ergodox EZ (it's open source so you can get Ergodoxes from various sources as well as build your own) also make the Moonlander, which is a step closer to the Kinesis in shape.
I looked into it as a potentially more mobile alternative to the Kinesis but decided to stick with the Kinesis.
I'm hoping if my current keyboard ever dies Kinesis will have a new QMK-based version that comes in two halves, or that the Dactyl Manuform becomes something that you can buy a solid transportable version of.
Dactyl manuform user here. That's definitely my only complaint. The dactyl is the absolute perfect keyboard, except for the fact that it's a nightmare to transport anywhere. If I have to take it anywhere I carry it in a paper shopping bag with nothing else in it. It's not a cheap keyboard either, so getting one for work and one for home is a hit to the wallet.
I recently grabbed a keyboardio atreus for travel and laptop use. Not nearly as ergonomic as the dactyl, but still a very nice keyboard in it's own right.
> the Moonlander, which is a step closer to the Kinesis in shape
Just took a look, doesn't really look much difference. I mean the 3d curvature of the keys, your hand is kinda in a semi circular channel. I just find it comfortable, especially to reach the furthest rows of keys from the home row. Its not a huge deal, just something I like about the Kinesis. I also use the Kinesis foot pedals -- does something similar exist for the Ergodox? I didn't see one at my quick look, but I also didn't look very hard.
You'd have to mod the case and do some wiring, but since the ErgoDox is just a Teensy running QMK you could in principle hack it. I think all you would have to do is find an unused pin on the uC and then wire that pin to the foot pedal and recompile the firmware.
But the only real advantage to the ErgoDox over the Kinesis in my opinion is that it runs QMK: the key-wells are more ergonomic and the thumb cluster is better positioned because of the slight vertical height difference. And if you get a Stapelberg converter[1] PCB made, it doesn't look that bad to add.
The Moonlander lets you angle the thumb cluster seprately, where the ergodox ez is a single flat plane.
For the bowl shape, you'd need to look at something like the Dactyl Manuform I mentioned.
Many split keyboards transfer keypresses from one side to the other via simple audio cables, I believe footpedals could be spliced in there too, but that's just speculation.
Most often the audio cable carries serial port signals (not proper RS232 afaict but logically a com port). Splicing in a pedal should be doable, as long as you don't press it simultaneously with a key on the "remote" part of the split keyboard.
Believe it or not, I was an Advantage II user but switched to Moonlander because I find it easier to type on. For some reason my pinkies always felt weak typing on the Kinesis.
Given the rapid development of the hobbyist landscape from 3D printing, I suspect it will only be a matter of time before Kinesis comes out with a split design.
Although the Kinesis is actually very easy to mod, and there are quite good resources on replacing the microcontroller with something that can run QMK. If you're not familiar, here's a link[1] to a PCB design that will route the ribbon cables to a Teensy.
Uh, Kinesis has several split designs already (Freestyle 1/2/Pro/Edge). Not shaped like the Advantage, but I’m pretty sure shaping is not popular enough to sustain the kind of volume they aim for.
To be honest, I just wish they had an ortho version of the FS Pro.
You're right, I had assumed it was obvious from context since we were talking about the Advantage and Dactyl-Manuform specifically.
The market may be there though, since the Advantage has basically been the companies main product for RSI mitigation for decades and not gamers wanting a split to get the mouse closer in.
I looked into it as a potentially more mobile alternative to the Kinesis but decided to stick with the Kinesis.
I'm hoping if my current keyboard ever dies Kinesis will have a new QMK-based version that comes in two halves, or that the Dactyl Manuform becomes something that you can buy a solid transportable version of.